Page 53 of The Puck Charmer

“What do you do, my boy?” she asks.

“Vivian,” Alyssa says quickly. “He’s helping a friend out in town. Dog watching for him.”

She goes quiet for a long time, and I brace myself for an interrogation. “Well, any boy who likes dogs and is a friend of Alyssa’s is a friend of mine.” I relax a bit. “I should be on my way,” she says. “Rose and I were working on a crossword puzzle.” She turns to Rose, who sets the book on her nightstand. “We’ll finish up when I come back tomorrow.”

“You have fun with those grandkids, Viv,” Rose says.

Vivian turns back to us. “Our grandkids from Boston are coming for a visit tonight.”

“Oh, Alek is from Boston,” Alyssa says.

Vivian nods, and her blue eyes narrow in on me. “Maybe that’s why you look so familiar. Which part of Boston are you from?”

“West Roxbury.”

“Oh, nice area.” Her gaze scans my face, and I hope to fuck she doesn’t place me. “My son is living in Dorchester. I must go. See you tomorrow night, Rose.” As she gives her friends a hug, Alyssa removes the old flowers in the vase and adds new ones.

“So pretty,” Rose says. “Now come sit, and tell me all about your day.”

“I brought you fresh trout. I caught it and Alek cooked it.”

“Oh, lovely.”

Alyssa hands the container and fork over, and sits. I gesture that I’ll grab us a couple cups of coffee. I step into the hall and make my way through the long corridor. There’s an elderly gentleman at the coffee machine ahead of me, so I hang back. He seems to be having trouble trying to figure the machine out and when he glances over his shoulder, a measure of panic on his face, I step up to him.

“What are you looking for?” I ask.

“Coffee with cream,” he says, and I press the buttons. The coffee pours, and I can feel his gaze drilling into me. “Aren’t you—”

“Here you go,” I say, keeping my head low and my hat over my eyes. “Careful, it’s hot.”

One hand with numerous dark spots takes the paper cup from me and I dig into my pocket, unease curling around me, filling me with the sense my world is about to come crashing down on me. Fuck man, here I thought Alyssa and I would just have some fun and I’d leave here without her ever needing to know who I was, but now… now everything is different.

With a cup of coffee in each hand I head back to the room when the man calls out, “Alek?”

I freeze for one brief second, but it’s enough to give myself away. “Shit.” I always stop to talk to my fans and give autographs, and I should this time, too. But I can’t let Alyssa find out who I really am from someone else. I bite the inside of my cheek and continue on. I’ve seriously been enjoying the anonymity of this place, but I think it’s soon going to come to an end.

I step back into the room, and Alyssa’s head lifts from the book she’d been reading. She takes one look at me and her smile falls. Shit.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah, fine,” I say, and force a smile. “The machine was giving a guy a hard time. I had to help him.” She nods, but doesn’t look convinced as I hand her coffee over. She graciously accepts it and takes a big drink.

I kick back in my chair and pull my phone out to answer some emails and check in with the guys, who are asking if I’m coming to the cottage this summer. Alyssa would have a blast there, I’m sure of it. Swimming, hanging out, bonfires, and the girls all love to shop, and catch up. I’m certain they’d take her under their wing, but then I remember she’s not going anywhere in a hurry, and that scenario is never likely to happen.

“All set?” Alyssa asks quietly and I lift my head to find her grandmother sleeping. Alyssa stretches out her arms and I stand, pulling her to me.

“You’re tired,” I say, and press my forehead to hers, enjoying the easy comfort between us.

“A bit, but I still have a surprise for you.”

I brush my lips over hers, and when I catch movement from the corner of my eye I turn, and I swear to God, Rose just blinked her eyes shut. I stare at her for a moment. Is that a smirk on her face?

“Hey,” Alyssa says, her hand on my cheek, and pulling my focus back to her. “Are you okay? You’ve been acting a little strange.”

“I think Rose…” Alyssa’s eyes narrow. “Nothing. I just…nothing.” I take her hand. “Come on. Let’s leave her to rest.”

Alyssa scoops up her purse and we quietly leave the room. Back in her truck, she says, “Can we stop at my place for a second?” Her lips quick with excitement and I can’t help but wonder what she’s up to.